215,950 profiles ranked

← Fame through time2000-2099

The 21st century

Whose names filled the books of the 21st century - anyone at all, however long dead - counted as mentions per million words printed, so a period that simply published more does not inflate anyone.

Talked about then

Whose names appeared most in Italian books during the 21st century, whenever they lived.

  1. 1Caravaggio1571-1610 · 17th century · Italy · Artists5.9
  2. 2Giotto1267-1337 · 14th century · Italy · Artists3.6
  3. 3Benedetto Croce1866-1952 · 20th century · Italy · Academics2.8
  4. 4Silvio Berlusconi1936-2023 · 20th century · Italy · Politicians2.7
  5. 5Leonardo da Vinci1452-1519 · 15th century · Italy · Artists2.6
  6. 6Antonio da Correggio1489-1534 · 16th century · Italy · Artists2.5
  7. 7Giordano Bruno1548-1600 · 16th century · Italy · Academics2.2
  8. 8Dante Alighieri1265-1321 · 14th century · Writers2.2
  9. 9Aldo Moro1916-1978 · 20th century · Italy · Politicians1.9
  10. 10Donatello1386-1466 · 15th century · Artists1.9
  11. 11Donato Bramante1444-1514 · 15th century · Italy · Architects1.7
  12. 12Francis of Assisi1182-1226 · 13th century · Italy · Writers1.7
  13. 13Leon Battista Alberti1404-1472 · 15th century · Italy · Architects1.6
  14. 14Charles Borromeo1538-1584 · 16th century · Italy · Religious Figures1.5
  15. 15Giacomo Leopardi1798-1837 · 19th century · Italy · Writers1.5
  16. 16Italo Calvino1923-1985 · 20th century · Italy · Journalists1.4
  17. 17Pier Paolo Pasolini1922-1975 · 20th century · Italy · Writers1.4
  18. 18Giuseppe Verdi1813-1901 · 19th century · Italy · Musicians1.3
  19. 19Benito Mussolini1883-1945 · 20th century · Italy · Politicians1.3
  20. 20Pietro Perugino1448-1523 · 15th century · Italy · Artists1.3
  21. 21Primo Levi1919-1987 · 20th century · Italy · Scientists1.2
  22. 22Marco Polo1254-1324 · 13th century · Italy · Historical Figures1.2
  23. 23Tintoretto1519-1594 · 16th century · Italy · Artists1.2
  24. 24Piero della Francesca1415-1492 · 15th century · Italy · Artists1.2
  25. 25Umberto Eco1932-2016 · 20th century · Italy · Writers1.2
  26. 26Torquato Tasso1544-1595 · 16th century · Italy · Writers1.2
  27. 27Masaccio1401-1428 · 15th century · Italy · Artists1.2
  28. 28Luigi Einaudi1874-1961 · 20th century · Italy · Politicians1.2
  29. 29Lorenzo de' Medici1449-1492 · 15th century · Politicians1.2
  30. 30Petrarch1304-1374 · 14th century · Italy · Academics1.1
  31. 31Alessandro Manzoni1785-1873 · 19th century · Italy · Writers1.1
  32. 32Galileo Galilei1564-1642 · 16th century · Italy · Scientists1.1
  33. 33Luigi Pirandello1867-1936 · 20th century · Italy · Writers1.1
  34. 34Guercino1591-1666 · 17th century · Italy · Artists1.0
  35. 35Romano Prodiborn 1939 · 20th century · Italy · Politicians1.0
  36. 36Philip Neri1515-1595 · 16th century · Religious Figures1.0
  37. 37Gabriele D'Annunzio1863-1938 · 19th century · Italy · Writers0.99
  38. 38Farinelli1705-1782 · 18th century · Italy · Musicians0.98
  39. 39Parmigianino1503-1540 · 16th century · Italy · Artists0.94
  40. 40Antonio Gramsci1891-1937 · 20th century · Italy · Academics0.93
  41. 41Giulio Romano1499-1546 · 16th century · Italy · Artists0.92
  42. 42Giulio Andreotti1919-2013 · 20th century · Italy · Politicians0.88
  43. 43Cesare Pavese1908-1950 · 20th century · Italy · Writers0.86
  44. 44Giuseppe Mazzini1805-1872 · 19th century · Italy · Activists0.85
  45. 45Guido Reni1575-1642 · 17th century · Italy · Artists0.83
  46. 46Pietro da Cortona1596-1669 · 17th century · Italy · Artists0.82
  47. 47Cimabue1240-1302 · 13th century · Artists0.82
  48. 48Giorgio Vasari1511-1574 · 16th century · Italy · Artists0.81
  49. 49Federico Fellini1920-1993 · 20th century · Italy · Directors0.80
  50. 50Eugenio Montale1896-1981 · 20th century · Italy · Writers0.78
  51. 51Paul the Deacon720-799 · 8th century · Writers0.78
  52. 52Alcide De Gasperi1881-1954 · 20th century · Italy · Politicians0.78
  53. 53Luchino Visconti1906-1976 · 20th century · Italy · Directors0.77
  54. 54Pietro Bembo1470-1547 · 16th century · Italy · Religious Figures0.77
  55. 55Pietro Aretino1492-1556 · 16th century · Italy · Writers0.76
  56. 56Bettino Craxi1934-2000 · 20th century · Italy · Politicians0.75
  57. 57Alberto Moravia1907-1990 · 20th century · Italy · Writers0.75
  58. 58Giovanni Pascoli1855-1912 · 19th century · Italy · Writers0.74
  59. 59Ugo Foscolo1778-1827 · 19th century · Writers0.72
  60. 60Federico Borromeo1564-1631 · 16th century · Religious Figures0.72
  61. 61Niccolò Machiavelli1469-1527 · 16th century · Politicians0.72
  62. 62Antonio Canova1757-1822 · 18th century · Italy · Artists0.72
  63. 63Marsilio Ficino1433-1499 · 15th century · Italy · Academics0.71
  64. 64Canaletto1697-1768 · 18th century · Italy · Artists0.71
  65. 65Vittorio Alfieri1749-1803 · 18th century · Italy · Historical Figures0.71
  66. 66Alessandro Cagliostro1743-1795 · 18th century · France · Doctors0.70
  67. 67Massimo D'Alemaborn 1949 · 20th century · Italy · Politicians0.68
  68. 68Pietro Verri1728-1797 · 18th century · Academics0.68
  69. 69Domenichino1581-1641 · 17th century · Artists0.68
  70. 70Palmiro Togliatti1893-1964 · 20th century · Italy · Politicians0.67
  71. 71Dario Fo1926-2016 · 20th century · Italy · Writers0.64
  72. 72Giovanni Bellini1430-1516 · 15th century · Italy · Artists0.64
  73. 73Carlo Goldoni1707-1793 · 18th century · Italy · Writers0.63
  74. 74Giovanni Boccaccio1313-1375 · 14th century · Italy · Writers0.62
  75. 75Bernardino of Siena1380-1444 · 15th century · Italy · Academics0.62
  76. 76Leopoldo de' Medici1617-1675 · 17th century · Religious Figures0.61
  77. 77Andrea Palladio1508-1580 · 16th century · Italy · Architects0.61
  78. 78Pontormo1494-1556 · 16th century · Italy · Artists0.58
  79. 79Filippo Turati1857-1932 · 19th century · Italy · Politicians0.57
  80. 80Cosimo de' Medici1389-1464 · 15th century · Politicians0.57
  81. 81Giuliano Amatoborn 1938 · 20th century · Italy · Politicians0.57
  82. 82Vittoria Colonna1492-1547 · 16th century · Italy · Writers0.56
  83. 83Angelo Beolco1496-1542 · 16th century · Writers0.56
  84. 84Carlo Azeglio Ciampi1920-2016 · 20th century · Italy · Politicians0.55
  85. 85Alberto Sordi1920-2003 · 20th century · Italy · Actors0.55
  86. 86Andrea Doria1466-1560 · 16th century · Italy · Politicians0.55
  87. 87Fra Angelico1390-1455 · 15th century · Italy · Artists0.55
  88. 88Leonardo Bruni1369-1444 · 15th century · Writers0.55
  89. 89Italo Svevo1861-1928 · 19th century · Italy · Writers0.54
  90. 90Andrea Mantegna1431-1506 · 15th century · Italy · Artists0.54
  91. 91Vittorio De Sica1901-1974 · 20th century · Italy · Directors0.54
  92. 92Tommaso Campanella1568-1639 · 17th century · Italy · Academics0.53
  93. 93Elsa Morante1912-1985 · 20th century · Italy · Writers0.53
  94. 94Pisanello1395-1455 · 15th century · Italy · Artists0.53
  95. 95Simone Martini1284-1344 · 14th century · Italy · Artists0.51
  96. 96Maria Montessori1870-1952 · 20th century · Italy · Doctors0.51
  97. 97Giosuè Carducci1835-1907 · 19th century · Italy · Writers0.51
  98. 98Cesare Borgia1475-1507 · 16th century · Italy · Historical Figures0.51
  99. 99Salvator Rosa1615-1673 · 17th century · Italy · Artists0.51
  100. 100Antonio Rosmini1797-1855 · 19th century · Academics0.50

Most read

Who people actually looked up in the 21st century, across every language edition we measure (2015-2026 only - readership is measured from July 2015).

  1. 1Donald Trumpborn 1946 · 20th century · United States · Politicians336.3M
  2. 2Elizabeth II1926-2022 · 20th century · United Kingdom · Historical Figures223.3M
  3. 3Cristiano Ronaldoborn 1985 · 21st century · Portugal · Footballers211.6M
  4. 4Elon Muskborn 1971 · 21st century · South Africa · Founders207.7M
  5. 5Lionel Messiborn 1987 · 21st century · Argentina · Footballers178.6M
  6. 6Vladimir Putinborn 1952 · 20th century · Russia · Politicians136.2M
  7. 7Joe Bidenborn 1942 · 20th century · United States · Politicians124M
  8. 8Freddie Mercury1946-1991 · 20th century · United Kingdom · Musicians122.9M
  9. 9Jeffrey Dahmer1960-1994 · 20th century · United States · Historical Figures120.3M
  10. 10Adolf Hitler1889-1945 · 20th century · Austria · Politicians118.7M
  11. 11Taylor Swiftborn 1989 · 21st century · United States · Musicians117.8M
  12. 12Barack Obamaborn 1961 · 20th century · United States · Politicians115.9M
  13. 13Michael Jackson1958-2009 · 20th century · United States · Musicians114.4M
  14. 14Pablo Escobar1949-1993 · 20th century · Colombia · Politicians114.4M
  15. 15Kamala Harrisborn 1964 · 20th century · United States · Politicians113.6M
  16. 16Dwayne Johnsonborn 1972 · 21st century · Canada · Actors111M
  17. 17Queen Victoria1819-1901 · 19th century · United Kingdom · Historical Figuresnot measured105.6M
  18. 18Keanu Reevesborn 1964 · 20th century · Canada · Actors103.4M
  19. 19Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh1921-2021 · 20th century · United Kingdom102.1M
  20. 20Elvis Presley1935-1977 · 20th century · United States · Musicians99.6M
  21. 21Tom Cruiseborn 1962 · 20th century · United States · Actors99.4M
  22. 22LeBron Jamesborn 1984 · 21st century · United States · Basketball Players99.2M
  23. 23Jeffrey Epstein1953-2019 · 20th century · United States98.7M
  24. 24Michael Jordanborn 1963 · 20th century · United States · Basketball Players98.4M
  25. 25Ariana Grandeborn 1993 · 21st century · United States · Musicians98M
Show 75 more

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 21st century, ranked where coverage and readership agree.

  1. 1Neymarborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  2. 2Ronaldinhoborn 1980 · Brazil · Footballers3 decades
  3. 3Vinícius Júniorborn 2000 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  4. 4Gisele Bündchenborn 1980 · Brazil · Models0 decades
  5. 5Kakáborn 1982 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  6. 6Raphinhaborn 1996 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  7. 7Morena Baccarinborn 1979 · Brazil · Actors0 decades
  8. 8Casemiroborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  9. 9Philippe Coutinhoborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  10. 10Roberto Carlosborn 1973 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  11. 11Ronaldoborn 1976 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  12. 12Romárioborn 1966 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  13. 13Alisson Beckerborn 1992 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  14. 14Thiago Silvaborn 1984 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  15. 15Adriana Limaborn 1981 · Brazil · Models0 decades
  16. 16Rivaldoborn 1972 · Brazil · Footballers2 decades
  17. 17Rodrygoborn 2001 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  18. 18Daniel Alvesborn 1983 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  19. 19Gabriel Jesusborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  20. 20Robinhoborn 1984 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  21. 21Diego Costaborn 1988 · Brazil · Footballers1 decades
  22. 22David Luizborn 1987 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  23. 23Marcelo Vieiraborn 1988 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
  24. 24Roberto Firminoborn 1991 · Brazil · Footballers0 decades
  25. 25Richarlisonborn 1997 · Brazil · Footballersnot measured-
Show 75 more

How to read these rankings

  • Attention, not reputation. A place on these lists reflects the attention a person still draws in the public record. It is not a judgement on the life.
  • Fame in print. The curves show how often a name appeared in the books of each decade from 1800 to 2019, drawn from the Google Books Ngram corpus.
  • Gaps are left as gaps. Where the record is too thin to be fair, we would rather show nothing than guess.